RT Book, Section A1 Albert, Christine M. A1 Stevenson, William G. A2 Jameson, J. Larry A2 Fauci, Anthony S. A2 Kasper, Dennis L. A2 Hauser, Stephen L. A2 Longo, Dan L. A2 Loscalzo, Joseph SR Print(0) ID 1186148091 T1 Cardiovascular Collapse, Cardiac Arrest, and Sudden Cardiac Death T2 Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 20e YR 2018 FD 2018 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9781259644016 LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1186148091 RD 2024/03/28 AB Cardiovascular collapse is severe hypotension from acute dysfunction of the heart or peripheral vasculature causing hypotension with resulting cerebral hypoperfusion and loss of consciousness that can be the result of a cardiac arrhythmia, severe myocardial or valvular dysfunction, loss of vascular tone, and/or acute disruption of venous return (see Table 299-1). When an effective circulation is restored spontaneously, patients present with syncope (see Chap. 18). If spontaneous resolution does not occur, then cardiac arrest occurs, ultimately resulting in death if resuscitation attempts are unsuccessful or not initiated. Underlying etiologies for cardiovascular collapse include benign conditions such as vasovagal syncope, but also life-threatening conditions, including: ventricular tachyarrhythmias, severe bradycardia, severely depressed myocardial contractility, as with massive acute myocardial infarction (MI) or pulmonary embolus, and other catastrophic events interfering with cardiac function such as myocardial rupture with cardiac tamponade or papillary muscle rupture with torrential mitral regurgitation.